Griffin House and Matthew Perryman Jones

Born and raised in Springfield, Ohio, the athletically gifted Griffin House discovered in a high school drama class that he enjoyed being in front of people and making them laugh. He got totally swept up in performing after playing the lead role in a musical; it was the first time he'd ever sung, in public or otherwise.

Recently Griffin House released a new album, Flying Upside Down. House describes the recording of Flying Upside Down as "a dream come true," thanks in large measure to the drop-dead studio band assembled by producer Jeff Trott (Sheryl Crow), including a pair of Hall of Famers in Heartbreakers keyboard player Benmont Tench and guitarist Mike Campbell. A huge Tom Petty fan, House found it immensely gratifying that these great players related so strongly and brought so much to his own music. Also making major contributions were Beck's longtime bass player, Justin Mendal-Johnson, drummer Victor Indrizzo (Macy Gray, Aimee Mann, Daniel Lanois), and violinist Sara Watkins (Nickel Creek).

Matthew Perryman Jones is a product of the '80s, and his musical taste is shaped largely by bands like the Pixies, REM, U2, Echo and the Bunnymen, and other underground bands of that time. Jones was born near Philadelphia and relocated to Atlanta at the age of 11. He began writing songs in high school, where he also formed his first band, and was 15 when they recorded their first five-song demo (produced by Indigo Girls producer Don McCollister). His songs have been featured on TV shows such as Kyle XY and the Grey's Anatomy. He is currently touring in support of his new album, Until the Dawn Appears.